Panasonic brings seven Micro Four Thirds lenses to HD standard

Panasonic has reclassified seven of its existing Micro Four Thirds lenses as 'HD' lenses, four of them following a firmware update. Firmware v1.1 aims to improve the image stabilization performance and reduce the focusing noise during video capture. An apparent reassessment of its 'HD' standard sees these four, plus three other existing lenses, reclassified. The firmware can be downloaded immediately from the Panasonic website.

SECAUCUS, NJ (September 13, 2011) – Today, Panasonic announces the availability of a new firmware that enables seven of its LUMIX G Series interchangeable lenses to be HD lenses, meaning they can shoot exceptional HD video. Specifically these HD lenses excel in tracking focus in video recording while offering silent auto focus and exposure control. In addition, there is enhanced stability of O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) in video recording.

Panasonic’s LUMIX G Series of lenses are compatible with the company’s line of Compact System Cameras, including the 2011 line-up of the LUMIX GF3, LUMIX GF2, LUMIX GH2 and LUMIX G3. The new 1.1 firmware, available at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/, enhances the following seven LUMIX G Series lenses:

Ok, nice, but this firmware still doesn´t make the lenses zoom smother. Zooming with 14-42mm is choppy because it doesn´t zoom smoth. The only lens with real smooth zooming for filming is the 14-140mm. So don´t expect too much, the only thing they can improve is the AF for filming.Hope the 14-42mm PZ lens will zoom smoth.

The HD designation just means the lens made by Panasonic offers silent autofocus and silent, stepless aperture, making the lens more suitable for video recording.Carl Zeiss CP.2s aren't designated to be anything by Panasonic (it's really not their place to, as Panasonic is not Carl Zeiss), but they're listed under the Micro Four Thirds CINE system.

so if by some lucky chance you MAY have hacked your GH1 into a super-duper GH13 which records video properly, the following sentence on Panny's site may just cause a slight problem:"In advance to any lens firmware update, please make sure that your camera body firmware is latest"... could this be a smart ruse to relock all those wild GH13s back into their latest firmware, which will re-cripple the cameras?hmm, just a thought....

hmmm, after the update on my 14mm (body is GF3)touch outfocusing control with slider does not work properly. (iA / iA+ mode)when i press the record button, the aperture always goes back to wide open(f/2.5) no matter where i place the slider.

new firmware that enables seven of its LUMIX G Series interchangeable lenses to be HD lenses, meaning they can shoot exceptional HD video.======================That is Panny's story, so I think you need to understand what they are saying . I agree with the O/P

RedFox,"HD" is really stands for video. It has nothing to do with Resolution.All Panasonic is saying that those lenses are HD video grade so they will work better when taking video. (silent movement, etc)

Yes. Attach the lens to your E-PL2 and use the Olympus Updater. It will show if an update is available for the camera or body. Make sure you have a fully charged battery in the camera, and don't touch anything until the Updater gives you a big OK window.

All this firmware update means is that the HD logo really didn't mean much all along. The 14mm and the other lenses were already silent for video and their IS systems worked well.

The HD logo was nothing more than a marketing scheme. What would really make for an "HD" lens would be a nice fast 50mm prime with Image Stabilization or a fast zoom lens with a constant aperture and IS.

This needs clarification IMO, there are only 4 firmware updates for the 13-9-11, what are panny saying, that the other lenses were HD lenses on the last firmware update, if so they didn't mention it when i updated my 45-200 last time.